US2284538A - Head-lamp mounting - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1942. J. s. PARKES HEADLAMP MOUNTING Filed Aug.. 17, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 May 26, 1942. J. s. ARKEs 2,284,538

HEADLAMP MOUNTING Filed Aug. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 attorneys May 26, 1942. J. s. PARKES HEADLAMP MOUNTING Filed Aug. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F0 WA RD :Snventor @t/55 M *f Gttornegs P REVERSE and freeze parts together.

Patented May 26, 1942 f HEAD-LAMP MOUNTING John S. Parkes, Birmingham, Mich., assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 17, 1940, Serial No. 352,998

(Cl. .M- 7.1)

8 Claims.

This invention has to do with a headlamp mounting for automobiles permitting the headlamp to be retracted and concealed within the body or fender when not in use. Such arrangements have the advantage that when driving inthe daytime there are no projecting lamp parts to increase wind resistance and reduce the vehicle speed. Furthermore since the headlamps are most of the time concealed, body design need no longer be hampered by the requirements of the headlamp mounting and more attractive designs may be employed.

One of the problems in designing such mountings is that of providing a good seal, for the retracting mechanism may be put out of action by the entrance of dust and moisture. A special problem is created in winter when moisture is likely to collect in the apparatus or between the lamp or the lamp shutter and the body or fender An important feature of this invention consists in the provision of means for melting any ice that may interfere with operation of the mechanism.

According to my invention the opening for the headlamp is normally closed by a shutter or shutters which are moved into tight sealing engagement with the periphery of the opening during the latter part of the cycle of operation in retracting the lamp. Similarly when the headlamps are advanced to working position, during the latter part of the cycle the lamps are moved forwardly into tight sealing engagement with the edges of the opening. Thus a good seal is provided under all conditions. The headlamps are preferably mounted for sliding movement only in a `direction parallel to the car axis. With this arrangement advancing or retracting the headlamp does not change its aim. A further important advantage resulting from this construction is that when the headlamps are in retracted position they may be turned on and the heat of the beam playing on the closed shutters is sufficient to melt any ice which may have collected in the joint between the shutters and the opening in the body or fender. The increased temperature is also suiiicient to melt any ice that may have collected on the operating mechanism. Thus free operation of the mechanism is insured under even the most unfavorable weather conditions.

Another improvement consists in the employment of a two part shutter, preferably opening centrally, thereby reducing the space required for housing the shutter and its operating mechansm. The operating mechanism is also characterized by compactness and freedom 'from looseness or rattling of parts.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the headlamp and its mounting with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the yoke carrying the rack for swinging the pivoted shutters.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the headlamp retracted and the shutters in closed position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the drum cam.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in section taken substantially on line 6--6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a developed view of the cam tracks on the periphery of the drum cam.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View of a circuit which may be employed to actuate the headlamps, the parts being shown in the position they occupy with the lamp retracted.

I0 indicates a portion of an automobile body or fender having an opening II in which the headlamp I2 may be exposed for use, as shown in Figure 1. When the headlamp is retracted the opening is closed by shutters 54 as shown in Figure 3. The headlamp may be of the well known type consistingof a lens and a reflector equipped with a light source, the lens and reflector being sealed together so as to exclude dust and moisture. Headlamp I2 is preferably mounted in a suitable housing I4 to the rear of which is secured plate I6. About the opening II is arranged a gasket I8 of rubber or other yieldable material together with suitable reinforcing rings 20 to stiffen the construction and maintain the shape of the fender or body around the opening. 22 indicates a sealingl ring secured about the housing I4 and having forwardly and outwardly projecting flange 23 adapted to have sealing engagement with gasket I8 when the headlamp is in position for use as shown in Figure 1. A suitable gasket 24 is interposed between the sealing ring 22 and the housing I4 as a further guard against the entrance of dust and moisture into the chamber containing the lamp retracting mechanism. This chamber is constituted by housings 26 and Z8, the latter of which forms an extension of the former and is secured to it. Housing 2% is preferably welded to the fender or body lil. It is especially important that the chamber containing the operating mechanism be well sealed and to insure this gaskets may be provided at the joints as desired.

Part 3U, best shown in Figures l and 5,` is the main supporting bracket secured to the housing 25 and lying within the housing 28. Support 3@ is provided with an integral tubular spindle 32 provided with bearing sleeve 34 on which is journalled hub 35 of drum cam 35. Thrust bearing 3S is interposed vbetween one end of hub 35 and bracket 3i) and a similar thrust bearing 38 is provided between the other end of hub 35 and collar 46 threaded in the end Aof tubular spindle 32. i2 indicates a sleeve, preferably of sheet metal, secured to the lamp housing i4 and extending through a central aperture in plate i6. Sleeve 42 has sliding engagement with the interior of collar 4i) and. serves as a conduit for the passage of cable 44 supplying current to the headlamp and to some extent as a guide for the headlamp as it is projected or retracted. The circuit for operating the headlamps is not illustrated as it is conventional, including the usual dash switch to turnthe lamps on or off and the foot switch to lower the beam.

Drum cam 35 is rotated in either direction as desired by reversible motor 2id, Figure l, by means of the following gearing: to .one end of drum cam 3S is bolted ring gear 23B driven by spur gear 2x22 on shaft 2&4 carrying worm wheel Zai-6 vdriven by worm Zi on the shaft of motor 2H). The motor and gearing for driving the drum cam are suitably supported on plate S as shown.

The mechanism for supporting the headlamp and 'shutters and for moving them in th-e desired sequence bymeans of drum cam 3E will now be described. This mechanism is duplicated at the opposite sides of the headlamp but for the most part the description of the arrangement at one side only will suiice. For convenience in explanation .but one set of cam followers is indicated in the developed View of cam drum 35 shown in 'Figure 7. It will be understood that a duplicate set cooperates with the other set of cam grooves.

4t, 43 and 5i] indicate guide rods having their rear ends threadedor otherwise suitably secured in bracket 3i) Yand their forward ends secured in brackets 52, Figures l and 3, secured to the reinforcing rings 2!) at the sides of the opening Il. The two sets of guide rods constitute the principal supporting means for the headlamp I2 and the shutters 54.

Headlamp l2 is supported from the center guide rods #.8 by means of sleeves 53 encircling the guide rods and formed integrally with plate IS carrying the headlamp. As best shown in Figures 6 and 8, lamp supporting plate i5 is also provided with rearwardly extending brackets 55 carrying roller equipped cam followers k56 which engage tracks 58 in` drum cam 35. 'In the case of this as well as the 'other cam followers but one is shown, the other occupying a diametrically 'opposed position on the other side of the drum cam. By reference to Figure 7, which is a developed View of the cam tracks on the drum 3B,

it will be apparent ,that as the drum cam is rotatedcam `followers 56 and with them the headlamp will be movedby the cam track B Vfor-- wardly or rearwardly from opening l I.

Yextending rearwardly from yoke other end with locking Vtongue VSi?.

shown in gures V2 'and 8.

aparece The mechanism for operating the shutters 54 will now be described. Shutters 54 are carried by U-shaped levers 50 pivoted at 62 on crossheads 63 carried by yoke 5a slidably mounted at opposite sides on guide rods 46 and 5S as best shown in Figure i3. Yoke 6d carries projecting roller-equipped cam followers S5 cooperating with tracks 6B on drum cam 36 for a purpose later to be described. But one of the cam followers 65 is shown on the drawings, the other being located diametrically opposite it. Levers 5E! carry at their ,inner ends gear segments 6l meshing with racks t8 formed integrally back to back on arms 69 iii slidably mounted at opposite sides on guide rods and 5i? by means of integral sleeves or crossheads il. Yoke i@ carries roller-equipped cam followers 'i3 cooperating with cam tracks 'hi on the drum cam.

It will now be apparent Vthat as yoke 'l0 is moved rearwardly by engagementpf cam followers '13 with cam track 'Hi racks ES carried by the yoke engage gear segments iii' and rock the levers Sii carryinor shutters 5t to close-d position. Following this the simultaneous engagement of cam followers '65 with the inclined portion ofcam tracks and the engagement of cam followers i3 with the similarly inclined portions of cam tracks i@ moves yokes Sli and iforward simultaneously causing the closed shutters to be moved forward into opening il until the edges of the shutters engage gasket I3 as shown in Figure 3.

It is desirable to provide means to lock the shutters .in open position for during the greaterV part of the portion of the cycle in whichsthey are open cam followers 65 and i3 are out of engagement with their* respective cam tracks so there is nothing to restrain them from accidental movement. To accomplish this Vthe rear end of drum cam 36 is provided with cam track Bil, las best'shown in Figures 5 and 8, in which is received the rollerequippedcam follower 82 carried by locking bar '8f3 `mounted for transverse sliding movement on Vstuds "8E Vsecured in the plate Stand engaging slots VS8 in the bar. Bar 84 is provided at one end with locking tongue and atthe Projecting rearwardly from yoke 5t isaperture-d lug 94, best sliownin `Figures 3 and 8, and projecting rearwardly from yoke TB is apertured lug 96, best When the apertures in lugs 94 and 96 are alignedas shown'in Figure 8 they are adapted to be engaged by locking tongue 92,'the locking movement being accomplished by engagement of cam follower 82 with cam track SQ as 'will be evident from Figures 5 and 6.

Locking tongue Qisimilarly engages apertured lugs gli and '9S secured to diametrically vopposite sides of yokes 66' an'd'l.

The circuit shown vin Figure '9 consists of a simple push-pull switch AvS vin serieswith limit switch lili having an actuating knob te@ adapted to be engaged by'one "ortho other of lugs 38 as the cam drum'reaches'the'end of itsmovement in eitherdirection. If it is `desired to retract the headlampsgswit'chS is movedto the right whereupon current issuppliedito the tarn-rature A and the reverse field through lead 221k This sets lin operation the retractingv cycle tobe later described at the Venldmcf whichone of theulugs QS engages knob I and trips switch |02 to' to the armature A and forward field of motor 2|0, thereby advancing the lamp to operative position as will be described.

The operation of the device will now be described in detail. With the 'parts in the position shown in Figure 1, should it be desired to retract the headlamps the driver closes the cir- 1 cuit of motor 2| 0 by moving switch S to the right as previously described, Figure 9, thereby rotating drum cam 36 through worm 208, worm gear 206, spur gear 202 and ring gear 200. The eiect of this is to move the drum so that while at the beginning of the stroke the cam followers 56, 65 and 13 occupy the positions indicated by dotted lines at the left of Figure 7, at the end of the stroke they occupy the positions indicated at the right of that figure. It will be noted that for convenience in illustration the convention has been adopted that the cam :followers rotate with respect to the cam tracks in Figure 7 whereas in fact the cam tracks rotate while the cam followers are confined for movement in the direction of the axis of the drum.

During the first part of the movement the cam followers 56 move along the inclined portion of cam tracks S thereby retracting the headlamp l2. When this retraction has been partially completed the cam track 80 in the end of the drum cam actuates cam follower 82 to move latch 84 so as to disengage tongues 90 and 92 from the apertures in lugs 94 and 96 secured to yokes 64 and 10 respectively thereby unlocking the shutters 51|. This does not take place until cam followers 13 and 65 have engaged their respective cam tracks 'i4 and 66 thereby restraining the shutters from chance movement. Shortly thereafter cam followers 'I3 engage the inclined portions of cam tracks 'I4 thereby causing racks 68 to rotate gear segments 61 of levers 60 carrying the shutters 54 so that the shutters are now moved into closed position between the retracted headlamp and the opening. Next the cam followers 13 and 65 engage the oppositely inclined portions of the cam tracks 14 and 66 thereby advancing the shutters to the position shown in Figure 3. At the conclusion of this movement all o'f the cam followers are in engagement with their respective tracks so that there is no opportunity for displacement of the parts as the result of jolting or vibration so it is unnecessary to provide special means to lock the parts in this position. As the cycle reaches its end one of the lugs 98 engages projection |00 of switch |02 so as to cut off the supply of current to armature A of motor 2|0 and its reverse iield and establish connection for the supply of current to the armature and forward field when switch S is next actuated.

In advancing the headlamp from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1 the action is reversed. Switch S is moved to the position shown in full lines in Figure 9 causing motor 2 0 to rotate in the opposite direction. The first thing that takes place is retraction of the shutters 54 followed by the swinging of them to open position and the simultaneous advancing of the headlamp toward the projected position shown in Figure l. Near the end of the movement one of the lugs 98 moves limit switch |02 back to the position shown in Figure 9, thereby breaking the motor circuit. The parts are now in position for retraction of the lamps upon moving switch S to the right.

An important feature of my invention is the provision for forward movement of the shutters or headlamps toward the end of each cycle so that they may be tightly engaged with the opening in the body or fender so as to produce a good seal. This is particularly important in winter when any moisture collecting in the device is likely to freeze and-interfere with its operation. Should ice form between the shutters and the opening holding them in closed position, it is only necessary to turn on the headlamps and the heat from the beams will soon melt the ice and free the shutters.

The invention is susceptible of considerable modification. If desired cam followers need be provided at one side only of a headlamp. However to insure complete freedom from binding, a duplication of the operating mechanism on the other side is desirable.

It will be understood the same mechanism is provided for each headlamp and common switching means for the motors 2| 0 is all that is required to produce simultaneous operation. It will be apparent also that should one of the devices fail to operate the other will function without hindrance.

Other mechanical movements which are the equivalent of those illustrated may be employed, and such equivalents are within the scope of my invention as indicated by the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A retractible lamp mounting for vehicles for enabling the lamp to be exposed when desired in an opening in a suitable support on the vehicle comprising in combination with said lamp, means for guiding the lamp for substantially straightline movement toward or from the opening, a shutter support mounted for sliding movement parallel to the direction of movement of the lamp, a shutter pivoted to said support for movement toward or from the opening at an angle to the path of movement of the lamp, and means for moving the lamp, shutter support and shutter in sequence to slide the shutter support and shutter away from the opening, swing the shutter out of the path of movement of the lamp, and advance the lamp into the opening or reverse said operations.

2. A retractible lamp mounting for vehicles for enabling the lamp to be exposed when desiredin an opening in a Vsuitable support comprising means for movably mounting the lamp for sliding movement so as to enable it to be operatively positioned in said opening or withdrawn rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of pivoted closures adapted to be swung toward each other to cooperate in closing said opening or to be swung away from each other out of the path of the lamp, means for mounting said closures for sliding movement rearwardly of the opening, and operator controlled means operating in sequence to slide said lamp away from said opening, swing said closures into position covering said opening, and move said closures forward to close said opening or to reverse said sequence when desired.

3. A retractible mounting for automobile lamps and the like comprising guiding means, a lamp support slidably mounted on the guiding means, a shutter support slidably mounted on said guiding means, a shutter pivoted on said support, a shutter operator slidably mounted on said guiding means and operatively connected to said shutter to cause the shutter to swing upon relative movement of said shutter support and shutter operator, and operator controlled means adapted to actuate said lamp support, shutter support and shutter operator in sequence so as to move said shutter support, shutter and shutter operator rearwardly, then move said shutter operator relatively to said shutter support to cause said shutter to move out of the path of travel of said lamp and then advance said lamp to projected position or to reverse said sequence of operations as desired.

4. In the combination as defined in claim 3, a latch to hold said shutter in retracted position, said operator controlled means including means to operate said latch when the shutter is fully retracted and means to release said latch during the lamp retraction cycle to permit moving the shutter to closed position.

5. A rectractable lamp mounting for vehicles comprising a support having an opening therein, a rectilinear guide xedly mounted on the support at the rear of said opening and extending toward said opening, a lamp, means for mounting the `lamp for sliding movement along said guide toward or from sealing engagement with the opening, a shutter, means pivotally mounting the shutter on the support for movement toward or from the opening at an angle to the path of movement of the lamp to cover or uncover the opening, and unitary operator-controlled means for moving the lamp and shutter in sequence to swing the shutter away from the opening and move thev lamp into the opening or to move the lamp away from the opening and swing the shutter into closing position.

6. In the combination as deiined in claim 5, said last-named means comprising a rotatable drum having cam tracks thereon and cam followers engaged with said tracks and connected respectively to the lamp and to the shutter.

7. A retractable lamp mounting for vehicles comprising a support having an opening therein, a lamp, means for movably mounting the lamp to enable it to be positioned in sealing engagement with said opening or withdrawn rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of pivoted closures adapted to cooperate in one position to close said opening and in another position to lie out of line with said opening, and operator-controlled means operating in sequence to withdraw said lamp from sealing engagement with said opening and swing said closures over said opening or to swing said closures away from said opening and advance said lamp into sealing engagement with said opening.

8. In the combination as deiined in claim '7, means for latching said closures in inoperative position, and means actuated by said operatorcontrolled means for unlatching said closures prior to swinging them into position over said opening and latching said closures upon reaching retracted position.

JOHN S. PARKES.

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